Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-06-24
and surely he was n man who would keep

and surely he was man who would keep
his promise, if any man was.
Upon the seventh evening after her meet
ing with Reuben Hayes quiet reignsd at
the Indian village, where all had retired
except Ruth. She sat neditating upon re-
cent events, her bosom stirred with the
hope of speedy deliverance, and fear lest
untoward circumstances should prevent
Reuben from executing the plan for her
rescue. After time her attention was at
tracted by peculiar sounds breaking upon
the stiffness of the night. These, at first,
faint and distant, gradually grew nearer
and louder, till, trembling, she recog-
nized the yells of the savages, who
were returning through the forest re-
joicing over the atrocities they had
committed. She aroused the women to
prepare for the wanderers, who. bounding
like deer through the forest, soon burst
into the village and threw themselves upon
the ground, calling upon the women for
food and drink. In order to help the
squaws provide for their impatient lords
Ruth offered TO carry out some provisions.
AS she appeared the warriors greeted her
with shout, calling her Ensenores pretty
sauaw. She did not reply, but moved
about silently among them, Mortified at
their revolving account Of an attack upon
lone settlers house, where, having muir
dered the inmates, they had possessed
| themselves of all of value in the house.
Exultingly they told their tale of horror,
their painted faces and blood-stained gar
| ments looking CHASTITY in the freight. One
man threw an ornament, torn from the
person of white woman, to his squaw
who had brought his supper; and another,
with fiendish laugh, tossed a scalp to
Ruth, calling ont in jeering tones, "Here,
little pale-face, take that for remem-
brance of your race"
With loathing she crept back to her wig
wan, and, stopping her ears, tried to keep
out the sound of their diabolical cries.
Such scenes as this always recalled to her
memory the time when her father and
mother We're cruelty murdered, their dwell
ing burned, and she was borne away, a
helpless captive, by the hideous savages.
| Toward midniglA the noise ceased, as
the Indians, weary with carousing, one
after another, fell asleep; and Ruth slipped
out into the forest to keep her appoint
ment with Reuben Hayes. She found him
awaiting her at the spring; by noon the
next day they had reached the settlement
of jamestown, where Ruth found home
with Rcuben's sister and her husband, Mr..
and Mrs. Charles Potter.
Three months have passed: the autumn
has gone, and snow lies white upon the
ground, and we find Ruth seated alone be-
fore the fire, in her new home. Mr.. and
Mrs. Potter have gone to call on one Of
their neighbors. The door opens suddenly,
and Reuben Hayes enters.
AS Ruth arises to greet him, he ap-
proaches her and takes her hand in his.
"Ruth," he says, 81 have loved you ever
since you released me from my captivity
with the Indians, three months ago. but
have waited to give you time to know me,
before telling you. I love you with all the
strength OF my soul. Ruth, can you be my
own--mv wife,"
Her disengaged hand seeks his. Her
eyes shine clear and deep as she mur-
murs:
al can be your own, your wife, for I love
you. [ have loved you ever since l saw
you brought to the Indian village, a help
less captive"
wedding at the jamestown settlement. and
Reuben Hayes and Ruth Waldron are
made husband and wife.